OKLAHOMA CITY — Tragic events unfolded in Oklahoma as slow-moving storms led to the drowning of at least two individuals trapped in vehicles by floodwaters on Wednesday. The heavy thunderstorms that swept through Oklahoma and Texas inundated roads, prompting warnings from authorities about the potential for flash floods extending into the early hours of Thursday. These conditions are a result of sustained severe weather across the south-central United States, as issued by the National Weather Service.
Persistent rains greatly affected areas in both southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, causing significant disruption. Numerous roads were flooded and washed out, and this cascade of severe weather has led to hundreds of flight cancellations and delays at major airports, impacting travelers across the region.
In a particularly tragic incident in Oklahoma, a man lost his life when his vehicle was swept away from a Pottawatomie County highway. Sheriff Freeland Wood recounted this harrowing event, noting that a deputy, in an attempt to rescue the driver, ended up struggling with the same flood conditions but later safely recovered after hospital treatment. Floodwaters forced the closure of nearly three dozen roadways in that county alone.
A similar fate was reported in nearby Lincoln County, where a driver’s vehicle was overwhelmed by floodwaters, leading to another drowning death. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, through spokesperson Sarah Stewart, confirmed this incident on a highway northwest of Prague. Across the state, rescue operations were widespread as many drivers found themselves trapped, and in some cases, residents in the small city of Lexington had to evacuate due to rising waters.
Notably, Oklahoma City set a new record for April rainfall with 11.94 inches, surpassing the previous record of 11.91 inches set in 1947, according to Oklahoma State Climatologist Gary McManus. The state as a whole was nearing a new historical record for rainfall, with measurements threatening to break the previous 1942 average of 8.32 inches.
Severe weather also hampered air travel, particularly in Dallas, where thunderstorms grounded departures at both Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Significant flight cancellations were reported at DFW International Airport, further exacerbating travel woes.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania experienced its own upheaval from a fierce storm that left three fatalities in its wake. This storm knocked out electricity for over 425,000 customers in Pennsylvania alone, with additional outages in Ohio and other neighboring states. By Wednesday evening, tens of thousands of residents remained without power, prompting utility companies like the Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Light to deploy emergency response personnel, including 400 specialists, to restore services.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro assessed the extensive damage within Allegheny County, stopping by local establishments such as Fiori’s pizzeria, which suffered severe storm damage. Among the tragic storm-related incidents, a 22-year-old man in State College, Pennsylvania, was electrocuted while attempting to extinguish a fire during severe weather, marking one of several storm-linked fatalities.
In Pittsburgh, reports came in of a person being electrocuted by live wires, with first responders confirming the individual’s death on-site. The catastrophe also included the death of a 67-year-old man, who was killed by a fallen tree in Ross Township.
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh reported widespread wind damage caused by powerful gusts exceeding typical tornado strengths. Described in meteorological terms as a “bow echo,” this storm delivered destructive winds at speeds between 80 and 90 mph, marking it as one of the most severe weather phenomena in the area’s recent history. Investigative teams assessed wind damage in Wilkinsburg near Pittsburgh to determine if a tornado occurred, but definitive conclusions were not reached.